Fonte was left with a black eye following a training ground bust-up with Osvaldo last month, an incident that hastened the striker's deadline-day switch to Juventus.

The Portuguese defender, meanwhile, remains a key part of Pochettino's side and his 69th-minute goal - confirmed via the Goal Decision System - offered the manager a chance to underline his strict belief in the group dynamic.

Osvaldo was not mentioned by name following the 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium, but his shadow loomed large over Pochettino's post-match remarks.

"(The incident) is completely forgotten, it is in the past and we can only look forward right now," he said.

"But I have always said the group mentality is the most important thing.

"No player is more important than the team mentality or above the team. I will always defend the view that the team is more important than a single player.

"I will always defend the common interest and the common good, what is best for the group and not for one player."

Fonte's goal capped a strong away performance for Southampton, who have now gone six games unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League and eight in all competitions.

Rickie Lambert could have scored twice inside the first seven minutes, Jay Rodriguez hit the crossbar with the best of several decent efforts and Adam Lallana was a constant menace in midfield.

Jack Cork also struck the woodwork late on as Saints failed to make the margin comfortable but Pochettino was content with their efforts.

"I think we fully deserved the victory," he said.

"It was a tough pitch and tough opponents but we were fully superior to a Hull team who invested quite a bit in the transfer window.

"We always had the hope we would score, we showed patience looking for the goal and in the end we achieved it.

"In the end we fully deserved the goal and the three points."

Hull put up more of a fight than in the 4-1 defeat at St Mary's earlier in the season but would have been fortunate to escape with a point.

Manager Steve Bruce did not attempt to soften the blow of a result that left the Tigers just three points clear of the drop zone, instead accepting the outcome as a fair one.

"If we're being honest, and we try to be, the best team on the night won," he said.

"We had to be at our best and we weren't.

"We surrendered possession, got the ball back to front far too quickly but sometimes you have to say 'hats off' to the opposition. They were all over us and didn't let us play."

There was further bad news for Paul McShane, who suffered a nasty ankle injury in an early collision with his own goalkeeper Steve Harper and could be out for an extended period.

"He's had X-rays which have revealed no break but the video evidence doesn't look great...his ankle is in a horrible position," said Bruce.

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